PIERRE CARDIN
VISIONARY CREATOR AND BUSINESSMAN
Born in Italy in 1922, Pierre Cardin arrived in Paris in 1945. In 1950, after working with Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli, he decided to found his own fashion house at 10 rue Richepanse in Paris. Just three years later, in 1953, he presented his first women's haute couture collection. In 1954, he created one of his most famous designs: the "bubble dress," and opened his first haute couture boutique for women on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré in Paris, the brand's historic address today.
However, his primary objective has always been to democratize fashion. This is how he introduced the concept of "licensing" to the fashion world, notably with a Texas-based distributor, in order to develop Pierre Cardin products in North and South America, and then quickly worldwide. The expansion of the Pierre Cardin brand has known no bounds.
The universe that Pierre Cardin built over the decades is multifaceted, both protean and innovative. Fashion, accessories, jewelry, perfumes, furniture, theatrical costumes, tableware… Pierre Cardin extended his influence into numerous creative spheres and never ceased to experiment. Geometric shapes, color combinations, unique and futuristic lines: his style is recognized throughout the world.
From the bubble dress to the Mao suit of the Beatles, from astronaut fashion to unisex fashion, from the chasuble cut into a porthole to the molded synthetic fiber dress, the name Pierre Cardin has shaken up the boundaries of fashion.
Photo: Rolland de Vassal
RODRIGO CARDIN
PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin was born in Padua, Veneto, on December 29, 1970. Nephew and close collaborator of the famous designer Pierre Cardin, he joined the house in the 2000s. A versatile creator, a graduate in civil engineering from the University of Padua, Rodrigo perfected his piano studies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest and began a career as a concert pianist, winning several prestigious prizes in international competitions.
Director since 1999 of various Pierre Cardin Group companies based in Italy, he has also directed dozens of artistic productions at the Espace Pierre Cardin theater worldwide. In Venice, he simultaneously created an innovative prototype: a transparent and luminous gondola. He also began working as a designer and graphic artist, where he distinguished himself by fully expressing his creativity, particularly in the design and production of furniture and objects.
Appointed president on October 29, 2020, Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin also became artistic director of the House on December 30, 2020. In January 2022, he presented the COSMOCORPS 3022 show, marking the starting point of a new era for the House.
Credits: Rodrigo Cardin photographed by Mathieu Zazzo.
VISION AND COMMITMENTS
The House of Cardin embodies experimentation, freedom, audacity, and creativity. Founded in 1953, its mission is to create fashion without borders and oriented towards the future. The universe is an integral part of its DNA, both aesthetically and philosophically. Since the 1960s, the House has been a pioneer in exploring space as a creative field, progressively incorporating futuristic, cosmos-inspired elements into its creations and designs.
Today, Rodrigo Cardin, Chairman of the Group, shares this passion and strengthens the Maison's affiliation with the sector: a fashion show paying tribute to Pierre Cardin at the Musée de l'Art et de l'Espace du Bourget, collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), research and development around training suits for the LUNA space center in Cologne, creation of couture pieces from fabric scraps supplied by Thales Alenia Space, support for innovation in favor of ecology in the space and maritime fields with the Prix Bulles... Since 2022, Maison Cardin has multiplied the opportunities to present the space universe not only as a creative resource but also as an inspiration to build the world of tomorrow in a sustainable way.
The House is committed to creating more environmentally friendly fashion and is launching numerous initiatives to progressively reduce its carbon footprint. Supported since 2022 by an external audit and under the leadership of its President, the brand is committed to establishing a rigorous CSR strategy for the years to come.
